A collage of the scope of his life (1902-55) from baby through to the Second World War. Photograph of photographs does not create high quality definition, but I hope the sense of the man, and his times, can be appreciated

DCM was too young to serve in the Great War, but as a tall 16 year old in 1918 it was his misfortune to have been accosted, accompanied by his mother in the Spring holidays, by a woman who voiced her expectation that he should be serving. A white feather was not, thankfully, handed out. …

Contained within a Memorial Album presented to Robert Cooper Whayman in 1878 by his friend, Major Donald Munro, after 18 years service with the Rifles. In 1860 Whayman was a Sergeant, in 1878 a Lieutenant. Click Image to View in Lightbox

From a Memorial Album of the 7th Tower Hamlets Rifle Volunteers – 1878. Promoted Colonel of the Regiment in 1886. Full honours Military Funeral. Preceding Colonel Sir Timothy Buxton presented a Pocket Bible to each man in the 1000 strong Battalion with a bookplate reading “In Memory of Colonel Donald Munro 2nd Battalion Tower Hamlets …

Compiled 2002. Available from the admirable Bill Clark at www.musichallcds.com You can listen to the opening track, “A Little Bit of What You Fancy Does You Good” here. Click the Image to View in Lightbox

Marie Lloyd, born Matilda Alice Victoria Wood (1870-1922) was a renowned star of the Victorian & Edwardian era, whose name is always remembered in England when Music Hall is mentioned. The author’s grandmother, Marie’s sister, Daisy Wood (1877-1961), is on the far left of the picture.The last of this family group, Anne, died in 1976. …

Believed to date from the 1890s, this photograph is of two rather assured Victorians. A cousin writing in 2000, who knew Harry in his later years, described him “as the sweetest, dearest man who ever lived”. The author never knew his grandfather, Donald, but would like to think he could have earned a similar epithet. …

Novelist and playwright Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) writing on January 10th 1910. In referring to Marie as a Grandmother, Bennett erred. Her only daughter never had children and died in 1967. Extract published in The Call Boy, Journal of the British Music Hall Society, Summer Edition 2001. Refer also to Related File – Marie Lloyd Click …

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